Dukes of Hazzard Legend John Schneider Chooses Bluegrass State as Home for His New Southern Horsepower Comedy

John Schneider

Whether you know veteran actor and singer John Schneider by his role as Bo of the Dukes of Hazzard or Johnathan Kent from Smallville, or better yet, by his string of chart-topping country hits, one thing you might not know is he’s about to film his new Cineflix series The Earls of Perry in the bluegrass state of Kentucky.

“I’m a bluegrass fan!” explains the actor and country singer John Schneider, who says he’ll be shooting on location in Perry County. “Like most people my age, we were introduced to the Darling family in the Andy Griffith show—which was the Dillards.”

Describing The Earls of Perry, “It’s very much like the Dukes of Hazzard because the Dukes were a family in Hazzard County and the Earls are a family in Perry County.”

Be on the lookout for behind-the-wheel hijinks, Mopar cars and jumps.

“It will be like Bo Duke didn’t necessarily grow up, but he got older. He’s still kind of a devil-may-care wild child. Rather than, like the Dukes, where Uncle Jesse [Denver Pyle] would try to rein us [Bo and Luke] in, it’s gonna be my nephews and niece trying to rein me in unsuccessfully!”

John says his wife and creative partner, award-winning radio personality Dee Dee Sorvino Schneider, made a discovery while they were planning the show. “When we were talking about The Earls of Perry, she actually looked it up and said, ‘You’re not going to believe this, but the town seat in Perry County, Kentucky is Hazard-spelled with one “Z.”’ It was one of those delightful accidents.”

The Smallville actor says The Earls of Perry will feature a character like the Dukes of Hazzard’s Balladeer, initially played by the late country singer Waylon Jennings.

 “Waylon had something in his voice that knew that Rosco and Boss were stepping way over the line. There was something really gritty, outlaw and fun about the way Waylon did the narration.”

Changing the character’s name from Balladeer to The Storyteller, John is considering Jamey Johnson, Steve Warner, and his friend, Ricky Skaggs, for the role.

“Shoot, the first time I met Ricky, he beat me out for the New Entertainer of the Year Award. I think his song that year was “Heartbroke.” I was backstage, and I heard Ricky’s song, and I said, ‘Hell, I would vote for that!’”

Still deciding on the show’s debut, he wants complete artistic control. “At the very least, it will be one two-hour episode, which will be a film we will distribute ourselves,” adding, “I’m not one for getting into bed with people who don’t have the same sensibilities about Southern horsepower comedy.”

The TV icon says he’ll postpone shooting to hold a charity concert for flood victims in Hazard.

“We were planning on shooting in the next month or so, but Hazard, Kentucky, just had a tremendously bad storm. They’re in a mess right now. So rather than go there with a camera, we’re going there with my band and doing a benefit concert for the community.”

John and Dee Dee are traveling the country for their podcast Drinks with Dee Dee and John.

“We talk about the events of the day,” John explains about the podcast. “We talk about how amazing it is to travel across this beautiful country of ours or people we’ve met at a diner somewhere that we’d just had a great conversation with.”

Releasing his twenty-ninth album, 2024’s Made in America, John is not shy when it comes to being patriotic.

“After I had recorded the song, ‘She’s Worth It’ which was my song about the American flag, I got my band and some writers back together and said, ‘Hey, we have to write an album that acknowledges not only that we have the greatest country the world has ever known, but we may lose it if we don’t do something.’”  John says the album is not about American-made products.

“The title song basically says, ‘I pray it ain’t too late to fix the problems made in America,’” adding his warning to young Americans, “Don’t take freedom for granted! Don’t make the mistake of thinking everyone in the world can get up in the morning and follow their dream.”

Feeling optimistic, John’s focus is writing and producing The Earls of Perry.

 “We will shoot it in mid-summer. I’m going to edit it, so we’ll have it out this year.” He’s hoping fans will enjoy the show.

“We’ll see what people think. It’s as close to a new Dukes of Hazzard as you're ever gonna get.”